Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission

Description

Philadelphia is also nicknamed “the city of brotherly love”. This northeastern mission embodies the culture of a fast paced life. Initially skeptical of strangers but ultimately loving, the people Philadelphia are friendly and are known to sacrifice a lot for family and friends. With a blend of people from places like Central America, South America, Asia and Africa the culture is rich. Known for it’s urban lifestyle Philadelphia is a hub of art, architecture and American history.

The Church

There are around 50,000 members in the Philadelphia metroplex. The actual Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission encompasses Delaware and parts of New Jersey and Maryland. Most church membership consists members that have moved to Pennsylvania due to work or school. Members generally live around 30 to 45 minutes from church buildings.

There is a temple being built in downtown Philadelphia. This structure, in the middle of the city, has already brought a lot of media and local attention to the church.

Missionaries shouldn’t let stereotypes of Northeasterners affect them. They have a culture of focusing strongly on family and friends. Neighborhoods often look after each other. This creates a beautiful environment for referral missionary work.

Food

The food is wonderfully diverse due to the ethnic makeup of philadelphia. Most missionaries will encounter Mexican, Puerto Rican, African and Dominican foods. That can include everything from tacos and beans to Eba; a thick dough like substance made from pounded cassava root and dipped in soup.

Some of the most popular food in Philadelphia is the Italian food. Northeastern style pizza is large, flat and traditionally eaten by folding a slice in half. The Philly Cheesesteak is also a very popular part of Pennsylvania cuisine.

Transportation

Missionaries that are serving in the city of Philadelphia will use public transportation. Between the buses and the subway missionaries should be able to get almost anywhere. Most other parts of the mission are more spread out and require cars or bicycles depending on the discretion of the mission president.

Safety

Being a large city it is requisite that missionaries are careful. Crime rates have been known to be high in Philadelphia but gang members and trouble makers usually avoid missionaries and even help them at times.

Customs

Street parties are fairly common in Philadelphia. Street parties are large parties thrown by everyone that lives on a street. Residents will typically close the entrances and barbecue out front bonding as they converse and interact. If one is invited to a street party it signifies that one is trusted and welcomed.

Local Lingo

Besides the several different languages spoken in Pennsylvania slang is very commonly heard in the inner city portion of the mission.

Essential Equipment

Good thick clothes for the cold winters are a necessity while lightweight, breathable clothes are great for the humid summers.

Flag of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission

Profile

Country: United States

Mission President: President Thomas G. Anderson

Mission Address:

721 Paxon Hollow Rd Ste B
Broomall PA 19008
United States

Languages: English, Spanish

Population: 5,965,343

Dominant Religions: About 60 percent of the residents are Catholic, 11 percent are Jewish. There are about 50,000 members of the church in Philadelphia.

Climate: The humidity produces warm and muggy summers, moderate springs and frigid winters. Temperatures normally reach around 90 degrees fahrenheit in the summer and around 10 degrees fahrenheit in the winter.

Major Cities: Philadelphia

Experiences

*What items were hard to get or not available?

“parents, family, money! lol”

“Fresh air from the west”

*What did you eat the most of?

“Spaghetti”

“ramen noodles, spaghetti, macaroni and cheese”

“pretzels & poptarts”

*What is the craziest thing you ate?

“Scrapple”

“spaghetti with cottage cheese and ranch dressing”

“scrapple”

*What was most surprising about the culture?

“I had never been to the eastern United States before, and I loved it!”

-Haily

“Pennsylvania Dutch People (like Amish People)”

-Dawn

“It was rude to look at others in the eye.”

-David

*What advice would you give to someone going to the Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission?

“Work hard and love the people!”

-Haily

“prepare by reading the scriptures, and pray pray pray”

-Dawn

“Develop a thick skin towards public rejection.”

-David

*What do you wish you had known before you served?

“I wish I had had the opportunity to go on splits with sister missionaries, or teaching opportunities.”

-Dawn

“More U.S. history of where I was going to.”

-David

*Other comments?

**Did you serve in the Pennsylvania Philadelphia Mission? If so we would love to hear your advice and your stories! Please contact us at editor@missionhome.com**